2015-10-11
Australian Greens Leader Dr Richard Di Natale today called on the federal Labor and Liberal parties to get behind his cross-party bill to establish a regulator of medicinal cannabis and pass it before the end of the year. “The bill to establish a federal regulator of medicinal cannabis has co-sponsors from all sides of politics and it’s been unanimously endorsed by a Senate Inquiry – all that’s left to do is vote on it,” said Dr Di Natale. “Today I’m calling on the federal Labor and Liberal parties to put partisanship to one side and support this cross-party bill that would make such a difference in the lives of many people who are suffering needlessly. “States like Victoria are taking action but these efforts are doomed to fail without reform at a federal level. This bill would remove the obstacles standing in the way of reform at a state level and allow them to opt-in to a federal scheme. “I’m worried that if the federal parliament doesn’t deal with this bill before the end of the year it will get lost in the politics of an election year. We can’t afford to let a reform like this languish.” Dr Di Natale was joined by Victorian Greens Health spokesperson, Colleen Hartland MLC, in highlighting the importance of medicinal cannabis law reform at a federal level. “It’s great to see Victoria moving one step closer towards producing medical cannabis, but we cannot do this alone,” said Ms. Hartland. “Without law reform on a federal level, Victoria’s medical cannabis scheme is on very shaky legal grounds and this is something that the Law Reform Commission’s report emphasises quite strongly. “We do not want to see this fail – there are too many people out there living with debilitating pain and suffering. We have a responsibility to ensure that these people can get the relief they are so desperate for.” Media Contacts Di Natale – Andrew Blyberg 0457 901 600 Hartland – Alistair Perkins 0425 792 532